Pixie Cut Challenge

Pixie cut challenge
Photo: Depositphotos
Q: I was chatting with friends about how much of a challenge it is to go from long hair straight to a pixie. One thing that came up was that a lot of hairdressers cut painstakingly slow and by the time your makeover is halfway you already changed your mind.
 
If we could go from long hair to really short in a finger snap we would probably have the guts to do it but the lengthy cutting process makes us nervous. If you go and see a really skilled hairdresser, how much time would she need for a long to pixie makeover when you ask her to do it as fast as possible? What cutting method would she have to use? Scissors, clippers, razor,...?

 
A: Firstly, you have to understand that hairdressers and hairstylists tend to be highly creative and artistically inspired people. Have you heard about that legendary painting that Michael Angelo painted in just one day? No, you haven’t because he took painstakingly long to complete his works of art. He put his soul into his work, which is why he is still one of the most celebrated artists to this day.
 
It may be overkill to compare a skilled hairstylist to a revered artist, but I hope you get the point. A “really skilled” hairdresser won’t cut a pixie in a finger snap, because he/she takes their time to create a stunning hairstyle. As I see it, you’ve got three options here. You can decide for yourself which will suit your situation best:
 
1. You can go to an apprentice hairdresser or freshly graduated hairdresser and ask her/him to cut you hair into a pixie in a finger snap. Young stylists tend to be more pliable to the demands of clients, irrespective of whether it’s wise to hack hair off as fast as you can or not. Hairdressing colleges often need models for the students to practice their cutting techniques, so you might be interested in such a class-session.
 
The students have to perform a short cut within a limited timeframe for their practical exams, which might be what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that these are students though, so the end result of your haircut is up for debate. But at least it will be relatively fast.
 
2. Tie your hair into a ponytail, take a really big, sharp pair of scissors and cut your hair off in one snip just above the hairband. This way you don’t have any time to change your mind, or to get frustrated at the pace that the hairdresser chooses to work. Then phone your stylist, tell her/him what you did and ask her/him to book you for a wash, cut and style.
 
3. You can go to your hairdresser, tell her/him that you want to cut your hair into a pixie, but tend to change your mind about the whole process halfway into the process. The hairdresser can then talk you through the whole process in a sympathetic yet firm manner, all the while being able to use an ample amount of time to create a really fantastic hairstyle.
 
There isn’t any specific manner or technique used to create pixie cuts. The hairdresser will most probably use scissors, thinning scissors, a razor and a clipper. The scissors are used to create the basis and foundation of the cut, the thinning shears and razor are used to create texture and specific designer touches, while the clipper is used to cut hair very short with mechanic precision, as well as shearing the hair off to skin level in sensitive places such as the neck, etc., where the razor will irritate the skin.
 
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See also:
 
Pixie cuts
 
How to cut hair
 
The pros and cons of cutting your own hair
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